By Aderonke Ojo
Players of City Football Club of Abuja on Wednesday night recited the club’s anthem during its maiden End-of-Year Celebration and Awards Night held in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The event was organised to recognise outstanding performances during the first half of the season and to motivate players and stakeholders ahead of the crucial second round of the Nigeria National League (NNL) campaign.
Held in the spirit of the Christmas season, the ceremony marked the first time an NNL club in the FCT staged a formal end-of-year celebration and awards night, a move widely praised by football stakeholders in Abuja.
During the event, the players expressed appreciation to the club’s chairman for the initiative, describing it as timely and motivating.
They pledged to respond positively by improving their performances and “turning the table” in the second half of the season as the club pushes for promotion.
The awards night attracted several dignitaries, football administrators, partners, and other stakeholders within the Abuja football community, underscoring the growing profile of City FC in Nigeria’s domestic league system.
City FC Abuja will resume league action after the mid-season break, with expectations high that the morale boost from the ceremony will translate into stronger performances in the second round of the NNL season.
Among the institutional honourees were Guardians of Fair Play Award: Nigeria Referees Association, FCT Chapter; and Guardians of Development Award: Nigeria Football Coaches Association, FCT Chapter.
Individual awards given include: Fan of the Year: Chinasa Ezekwueme
Most Consistent Player: Daniel Jacob
Fans’ Favourite: Sunday Dongs
Most Behaved Player: Sunday Oliseh
Most Impactful Player and Player of the Season (2025) was Joseph Donaltus
Most Promising Player: Simon Isek; and Clubman of the Year: Richard Yamoah .